Sports

Rain Postpones NASCAR Race In Joliet

September 18, 2011 1:36 PM

Crew members push the #7 Speed Energy Dodge, driven by Robby Gordon, through the garage area as rain falls prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 18, 2011 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images)

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JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — Rain at Chicagoland Speedway has forced NASCAR to postpone the opening race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

NASCAR will attempt to run the race Monday at noon Eastern.

The forecast didn’t look good from the start, but because the facility has lights, NASCAR waited all day for a window to dry the track. Officials got the window and had the track almost dry, but the sky opened again roughly six hours after the scheduled start.

Matt Kenseth will start from the pole when the race goes off on Monday. Six Chase drivers are starting in the top 10, with Kevin Harvick the lowest qualifying Chase driver at 30th.

This is the second time in three weeks the race has been disrupted by rain.